NAPIER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 43, 24 October 1891, Page 515

NAPIER.

( Detailed in transmission.) D bab Bee, October 2. The Cindeiella dance takes place to night, but as I want to catch the mail, I am afraid I cannot wait to tell you about it. Next week I shall hope to do so. I believe it is to be a splendid ball. The town is certainly full of country people if that is any criterion, but, at any rate, the more the merrier, and I think I may safely predict a great crowd. Mr and Mrs Kettle gave a fancy dress ball last week. It was a most enjoyable dance, and not only a dance, for there were charades, too, during the early part of the evening, and then dancing, which was kept np until a late hour. The house is delightfully planned for a dance. The large covered-iu verandah affords so much extra space, and then the garden is so delightful. The dresses were very quaint and pretty. Mrs Logan and Miss Minna Chapman both looked exceedingly well, so did Miss Ida Tiffen. Mrs Pat McLean's costume was much admired ; it was that of a Greek Girl; and Miss Dixon looked very charming in her pretty costume. Miss Leslie Thompson looked so nice. She went as an Iris, and had her white flowing robes trimmed with these very effective flowers ; she also carried a large bouquet of the same. Everyone seemed to enjoy the dance very much indeed. Miss St. Hill, Miss A. St. Hill, and Miss Nelson were there from the country. Miss St. Hill looked one of the best in the room.

When the Bowling Green was opened the weather promised to be fine, but I am sorry to say the fine weather did not last, and it came on most intensely cold and bleak. Notwithstanding this drawback a large number of people assembled on the ground, and during the afternoon some of the ladies dispensed tea, and handed round cake and bread and butter. I noticed Mrs Balfour looking very nice in a becoming dark gown, and Miss Hitchings and several others. The Bowling Green is looking very nice ; the lawn is a perfect picture now. It will be a pity if it gets dried up, although we cannot expect it will retain its lovely present green appearance all the hot summer. We think the courts will be well patronised when once the fine weather sets in.

Napier is looking most lovely at present; indeed, I really think this is the time of year for a stranger to visit our pretty town. The hills are beautifully green, and there are a number of acacia trees in bloom. The contrast of the green against the yellow is verycharming, with an occasional glimpse of blue sea thrown in. The Napier Operatic Society are very busy rehearsing for ‘ Madame Favart.’ We are looking forward to a glorious opera season. The performers are all well up in their parts, and are spaiing no pains to make it a success. During the opera a Court minuet is to be danced by Misses K. Hitchings and Guy, and Messrs Von Stunner and Arthur Kennedy. The ladies are to wear exceedingly handsome dresses with very long trains, which it has taken considerable practice to learn how to manage. I believe there are to be more than a hundred new dresses made especially for this opera—in fact no stone has been left unturned to make the season one of the most enjoyable that has ever been in Napier. I will tell you more about it after it is over. Mrs W. Tabuteau gave an afternoon tea last week, and varied the usual entertainment by inviting gentlemen as well as ladies. I do not see why the men should not be invited to afternoon tea sometimes. They come out of their office tired and hungry, as a rule, or at any rate thirsty, and I am sure must bless the good Samaritan who asks them to a most enjoyable afternoon tea and cake ad lib. Amongst those present at Mrs Tabuteau’s were the Misses Fulton, Iris Fulton, Millet, Hughes, Humpheries, Hamlin, Roy, and others, and Messrs Arthur Kennedy, Von Stunner, ami another. Mrs Tabuteau is a charming hostess, and a most enjoyable afternoon was spent. I must tell you of yet another engagement—that of Miss Weisman to Mr Tennent. We believe the engagement is not to be a very long one, and is to terminate shortly in matrimony. Mr Tennent is fortunate in having secured an exceedingly nice girl for his wife. I am glad to be able to tell you that Mrs Harry Warren is a little better, and lias been able to walk about a little just for a short time each day. I heard that Mr and Mrs Warren are going to reside for a time at that lovely place, * The Lawn,’ at Clive, but cannot say if the report is a correct one. Miss Thompson is still with her sister. Mrs ami Miss Hamlin have returned from Wellington, and are looking all the better for their trip. Mrs Horace Baker is also back.

She took her young daughter to Wellington to Mrs Swainson’s school. I noticed Mrs Hoad ley in town looking very nice in grey gown, stylish hat ; and Miss Kate Hitching.**, in salmon pink flannelette ; also Miss Lascelles, in navy gown, fawn jacket, large hat with feathers.

Dear Bee, < ictober 8. The last of the Cinderella dances has taken place, and was one of the very best balls that have ever been held in Napier. Great credit is due to Mr W. Anderson for the pains he took to ensure the comfort of everyone. On the morning of the ball he actually got up about four in the morning and went down to the theatre to see what he could do. lam sure he must have felt gratiiied when he saw the result of so much trouble. To begin with the suppertable was exceedingly pretty. All our lovely spring flowers are now in full bloom, and evidently nobody grudged sending their best and choicest blooms. Prominent on the table was an exquisite basket of jonquils, lilac, lilies, and other Howers most tastefully arranged by Mrs J. P. Hamlin, who, as everybody knows, has the knack, if anybody has, of arranging Howers. When the curtain drew up the supper-table looked very tempting, the dishes being many and varied, and seemed to be endless, for as fast as one dish was emptied another was put in its place. We had oysters, too, Bee, and delicious soup, with cream. Now I must tell you about the gowns. There were so many people at the ball it is almost impossible to remember every frock, so those who are not mentioned must forgive me. However, I will do my best. There were numbers of country people in for the dance, and some of the gowns were exceedingly handsome. Mrs John Moore, from Rakamoana, looked exceedingly well in a black and yellow gown; the sleeves were so pretty, being caught together by tiny yellow bows ; Mrs Hamlin looked very nice and natty in yellow silk, high collar, red rose in her bodice, and red flower in her hair ; Mrs Gore looked very well in white silk trimmed with exquisite chifl'on edged with gold ; she wore a diamond star in her hair ; Mrs W. Tabuteau was much admired in bright pink silk elegantly made ; her two sisters, Miss Fulton and Miss Iris Fulton, also wore pink ; Miss Fulton, a very pale pink ; Miss Moss (who has come down from Mrs Joe Rhodes) wore white trimmed with chiflbn; Miss Large, white, with red flowers (a pretty frock) ; Mrs J. Rhodes, from Ruataniwha, wore cream ; Miss Glendining, an extremely stylish gown of white satin with overskirt of soft grey net (one of the handsomest in the room); Mrs Glendining wore black and red ; Mrs Walker, bright blue silk, white front; Mrs Olliver, pale blue ; Miss Millet, cream, with heliotrope spots ; Miss Nelson looked very nice in her pretty heliotrope gown ; Miss Lucy Williams, her lovely maize silk with red flowers ; Miss Newton, blue ; Miss Daisy Newton, bright cardinal net; Miss Beamish, dark green net spangled wiih silver ; Miss Fanny Beamish, white and silver ; Miss Weber, pink fisherman’s net ; Mrs Logan looked very charming in white ; it suited her to perfection ; her sister, Miss Taylor, wore black ; she looked exceedingly well ; Miss Rhodes, pale pink; Miss Locke, pretty pink frock ; Miss Milly Rhodes very handsome white silk trimmed with white and gold chiflbn (Christchurch gown). To my mind Miss Ida Tiflen and Miss Hewson were decidedly the belles. Miss Tiflen did look really quite bewitching in a most lovely white gown glistening with dewdrops ; Miss Hewson wore a very pretty pale pink net, with silk bodice (an English gown) ; Miss Mary Lowry, a lovely heliotrope with sprays of real clematis ; Mrs P. S. McLean, red underskiit, black lace overskirt. We were so pleased to see Mrs Vickerman at our dance. She was such a favourite with us all when she lived in Napier—always so bright and merry. As one lady remarked, it did her good to see her amongst us once more. She wore black and rose (a pretty gown) ; Miss Shaw looked very handsome in pale blue ; Miss Hughes, black net, with a very handsome red sash ; Miss Thompson, graceful white gown ; Miss Jago, black embroidered with yellow ; Miss Minna Chapman, a becoming gown of pink trimmed with silver braid ; Miss Flossie Bell, heliotrope ; Miss Dixon looked very charming in pink. This ball might well be called a pink ball, for so many were the pink gowns worn. Mrs Balfour looked extremely well in eau-de-nil silk ; her niece, Miss Barton, wore white with marguerites, and carried an exquisite bouquet of the same ; Miss Hitchings looked well in white ; Miss Hilda Hitchings, pink ; and Miss Kate Hitchings, white and yellow striped net; Mrs Kells also wore a very handsome gown—white silk covered with spangles; and M iss Bower, a very becoming gown of pale pink silk, shoes to match. For a wonder we were short of men, which is not usually the case, and in consequence there were rather more wall-flowers than usual. I missed several of our dancing men, and I also missed Miss Hamlin and Miss Lascelles. The latter young lady has recently lost a niece, and we presume kept away on that account. We had a real good gallop to wind up with, which everyone seemed to fully enjoy, and before leaving the ballroom three cheers were given for the energetic secretary, which were heartily responded to. I am told the boating season is to open shortly. Our young men are busy getting their boats painted and done up ready for the opening of the season, an auspicious day, and generally looked forward to by both sexes. We are losing another of our residents Mr. I*. A. F. Birch and family. We much regret their going. Mr Birch was some little time ago reduced by the Government. He accordingly went to Australia, to look round, as the saying is, and succeeded in getting a really good billet. He returned last week for his wife and children, ami I believe leaves again for Australia to morrow. It seems a pity our old residents are going from us in this manner. Napier is not what it was a dozen years ago. We don’t see the same old faces now that we saw then. Well, Bee, no time for more, I am afraid, so must leave the rest of my news for my next letter.

Gladys.